It's over priced and you do not get a lot of food for the money ! We had them do some catering done by them & they ran out of food although what they served was very good thanks for letting me share this ! read more

Amazing food, amazing service , great family place to have dinner, party, holidays .Chef John's Lumpia

We love this place. It's within walking distance from our office downtown and everything on the menu is perfect.

I would say I am a regular for the brunch but after this passed Sunday I will think twice about coming again. I always had an empty glass, had to keep flagging someone down to refill. Also the manners of the cooks making the crepes are awful. Myself and my friend walked up (no one was in line) and the female and male were standing there talking and I asked for a banana crepe. They both looked at each other and had the look of "are you going to make it" SHOCKED!!!!! the male starts making mine and the female turns to my friend and told her she had to wait cause she is going to make crepes for an employee and she literally started making crepes for employess. Again SHOCKED!!!!! The male cook barley warmed my crepe and slapped bananas on it and told me I could do the rest. I took one bite and spit it out. cold and mushy. I am very disappointed. And hope they fix the issues with staff read more

The long wait is over. Surla's is open for lunch again. The food was great and the bartender poured a stiff drink.

I really enjoyed the Sunday brunch i will definitely be back to try other things the guy playing guitar was a really nice touch it really made it a cool atmosphere and our cups were never empty and our waitress was super sweet read more

Surla's - Sunday brunch - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

Came in for my wife's birthday on Friday, we ordered Korean pork ribs and beef short ribs. Both dishes tasted so bad that I am not coming back or recommending this restaurant to anyone. They need to keep up the food quality even though the business is not good. read more

The only thing I'm sorry about here is that I'm passing through on the way back from Yosemite and won't have a chance to eat here again. I had the ahi tuna appetizer which was, in a word, awesome. And since it's Asian fusion ( a little mis-characterized I think) I went for the summer squash pizza. Yeah, weird combination. The pizza was creative, with fresh ingredients and better yet, one of the best pizza crusts I've had - and I was in both New York and Chicago this summer. A decent beer selection which puts it way ahead of traditional Asian restaurants Very elegant decor, but casual at the same time. It was relatively late on a Wednesday when I visited and virtually no one was here. For the sake of Modesto diners I hope this place is very successful. read more

I have been here a couple of times bad haven't been disappointed. The food is really good, although being honest, I always order the Ahi Poke Bowl. I stick to it because it is on the healthish side and the flavors form all the components interact nicely. Service is quick and efficient and the environment is relax, low key, and according to the food they offered. If I could change something is the size of my meal to be smaller with a everyday price tag since the option is too big for one meal but not enough to split into two and save it for dinner. read more

My sister and I had a fabulous lunch here! I ordered the Chinese chicken salad for $12 which was beautifully presented, the plate looked like perfection before I devoured the tasty thing. The service was great and they even allowed me to try other salad dressings without any hesitation. My favorite was the lemon-thyme vinaigrette. My sister had the trio, also $12, which was soup, salad, and half of a sandwich. The BLT was on a fociacca bread specially made at a nearby local bakery which delivers to the restaurant several times a week. The bread delivered to the table was savory and sweet for our starters. read more

See all

Great place to go before a show at the Gallo Center! We sat at the bar and shared a couple of appetizers and a dessert. Baylee took great care of us! In fact, getting there right when they opened, we met all the wait staff and they were all very friendly! read more

Surla's - Dessert special, pear in butter cake and mascarpone cream! Added a shot of biscotti liqueur! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

Dessert & tea was good but the food is still not at all. Our table tried different dishes just like we did about 5 years ago & it's still not. read more

Love our dinner out at Surla's. Atmosphere was lovely. We had a table off to the side where there were dividing wall, so it was more intimate. The food was all delicious. our waiter was very attentive without being in our face. I would highly recommend making this a regular outing. read more

Surla's never disappoints! We were there after they had just reopened from the COVID closure, so there wasn't many guests. The food was so good! And the service was great. read more

Surla's - Ribs - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

See all

TO SURLA WITH LOVE.... ....OF LUSCIOUS LUMPIA! In my decades of eating Lumpia from NYC to Honolulu and back, I have never had experienced such an addictive re-invention of this classic Filipino dish! When I first laid eyes on these Lumpia, I was frankly mortified at first, because I had never dreamed of such an unorthodox presentation. These spring-roll-like objects, were cut lengthwise, and were layered, open-faced on top of each other, in a staggered formation. Furthermore, they were packed full of delicious extras, not normally found in the traditional type, like shrimp, green onion, etc. On top of this unusually artistic assortment of Lumpia halves, was a dribble of orange colored sweet sauce, kind of like one would find in a Chinese restaurant. Please see Lumpia picture. After I had gotten over my initial reaction, I tentatively lifted one to my mouth, bit it, and as I savored it, my preconceptions of what a good Lumpia should taste like, were shattered & blasted at warp 10, to the farthest reaches of the Milky Way, ....in a SUPERNOVA-FOODGASMIC BLAST of crunchy flavor ecstasy!!!!!!!! TO SURLA WITH LOVE.... ....OF LUSCIOUS LUMPIA! ************************* Notes: SOME MENU ITEMS: Notes: Yes, they have other things on the menu, besides these amazing Lumpia, that we have tried so far, such as: EGGPLANT NAPOLEON ($8)= Vege Wife acceptance factor = A+ Nice tasty unusual appetizer of layered fried gourmet cheese, breaded eggplant, and a savory sauce. HAWAIIAN AHI POKE ($15)= Poke is a common food/snack in Hawaii. The Poke here is a small portion, but tasty. Poke, while very cheap in Hawaii, due to the abundance of massive quantities of fresh Ahi, in almost every supermarket, is rare here, and therefore prohibitively expensive. This simple, yet tasty, Hawaiian food was served with shrimp chips. PRIME SHINE BURGER ($12)= Now call me silly, but I first thought the Prime Shine Car Wash, was some sort of typo or weird new burger topping...no you get a free Car Wash Coupon! How bizarre! As far as the Burger is concerned, the meat is a good hefty juicy patty, but the half-dollar sized Blue Cheese was not enough. The fries were good, but were too plain. If they polished this up a bit, it could be fantastic! Forget the Car Wash! FARFALLE ($17)= This very filling pasta dish had bow-tie pasta, fresh veges, finely cubed lean chicken; in a wonderfully savory Brandy cream sauce. ********************** PROS: + Lovely Luscious LUMPIA! + Some good, but pricey Asian fusion items. + Great menu diversity. + Hot, fresh, good to excellent Food! + Quick, attentive service, especially for the busy business lunch crowd. + Clean & safe environment with ample parking. + Nice friendly staff & chef. + Your water is always filled. + Generous good bread with lots of fresh olive oil. + Nice and clean bathrooms. + Pleasant entry which is nicely decorated with flowers/seasonal items + Nice bar area & wine selection. + Excellent Happy Hour with good pricing on both pupus & drinks. + Lots and lots of potential...maybe even a Banana Lumpia with ice cream dessert topped with local honey & nuts! + and again Lovely Luscious LUMPIA, also at Happy Hour prices!! CONS/NEEDS WORK: - Rather stark dark drab post-modern look which cries out for more color (ideas: one fresh flower on each table, Asian Art/ Tapestry/ Wyland or Wyland clone Seascape Art on Walls). It now has the look of a Modern Art Museum Café. -Tables have sharp edges and some chips & could definitely use tablecloths on non-window tables. They are neither comfy nor look upscale. -Either offer a fresh peppermill/ cheese grating service or have it on the tables already. -It does not inspire romance, at least not at lunch. The background music needs to be classical; I had to suffer through listening to the song "Carwasher" last time and wanted to shoot myself! -Better cheaper lunch specials! -Please get rid of the Modesto Bee hanging above the urinal and replace it with artwork, plants, or the Wall Street Journal. It is hard to be upscale if you have the sports bar look. Please replant some flowers outside. The old Hazel's, that was there before, had a wonderfully serene front garden to gaze upon. ********************** The reviews of this place are generally very good, but they are all over the place, and one can see why, after having lunch here a few times. They are good, but with prices this high, people usually want more. Many improvements could be made without breaking the bank and are cost-effective, IMHO. I guess it is still a work in progress, and we pray that it is successful! Modesto needs more successful upscale dining experiences for both visitors and natives alike! Dear Chef Surla...I have to say it again... TO SURLA WITH LOVE.... ....OF LUSCIOUS LUMPIA! read more

Surla's - Lumpia!!! Great version of an ethnic classic! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

See all

1) the service was welcoming, very attentive, as well as helpful with the different plates and personable. 2) the food was: a) plated and prepared beautifully, b) good size portions, c) absolutely delicious. 3) thank you for a wonderful meal and service experience. We will most definitely be back. read more

My idea of a perfect brunch includes good company, great food and lots of mimosas. Surla's supplies two of my three requirements. You have to bring your own company. My favorite selections on the buffet are the white chocolate crepes, eggs and bacon. Oh, and today they had the most delicious calamari seaweed Hawaiian salad. It was so good I went for seconds! With a buffet, it is imperative you get the food HOT. Otherwise it is just wrong. Cold eggs and bacon make me grumpy. So, the key to any breakfast buffet is to keep an eye on the food delivers and pounce when they deliver fresh aka hot food. That is how I do buffets and it makes such a difference. I can't end this review without mentioning the mimosas. I mean, what brunch is complete without a mimosa, right? The sparkling wine is complimentary and essentially never-ending. If you want to add a little vitamin C to your bubbles, then you purchase a carafe of orange juice for a very reasonable price. You can then have mimosas to your heart's delight! Love. read more

It was date night and we were looking for someplace new and decided on Surla's and they did not disappoint. We walked into Surla's and had the option to be seated immediately in the dining area but we decided to go to the bar and since it was still happy hour (from 3-7: 3 dollar beers, 4 dollar wells and appetizers discounted) and I heard they have good specials. The bar top was lit with red lighting which looked rather romantic and the lighting was dark. We were greeted as soon as we sit down and asked what we wanted to drink. Unfortunately this bartender "Rod" did not know how to make Long Islands. He didn't tell us that, but he was smelling the drinks and looking confused. I believe the tequila was missing. The service was at a moderate pace which I appreciated. I did not feel rushed nor ignored just very comfortable. We started out with the cheese board (see pic) and Chef John's Lumpia. The cheese board was delicious. I've actually never had one so flavorful, it was SO tasty. My favorite was the brie with truffle honey. OMGosh. The Lumpia is not your average Filipino Lumpia, yet a variation with chicken, pepper jack, shitake mushrooms, scallions and a chili sauce and the Lumpia is cut in half. I liked it (see pic) Great flavor. While I was sitting there deciding what I wanted to drink next, a yelp friend commented on my check in and said that she loves Surla's and they had the best "Moscow Mules" as I was reading aloud the comment to my S.O. and wondering what a Moscow Mule was before I knew it, the bartender had kindly made me one on the house and it was sitting right in front of my face! How awesome is that?!? Unfortunately, the ginger was too strong for me (but it was good) so I went on to have another Long Island, which again was not made correctly and was a different color than the last, lol. It's ok. We weren't about to school him on how to make one so we just drank up and continued our romantic evening. After we were done with our appetizers we decided to order our food. Since I was already kind of full from the appetizers I asked our bartender what type of Risotto was being served that evening and he said it was Seafood Risotto with Salmon, clams and scallops and that it was a great comfort food which at that point was right up my alley. I've only had Risotto so good a few times, my mouth was exploding with flavor and the consistency was above average. He got the New Zealand Lamb and was over the top impressed since he has never been a lamb fan and insisted I start adding it to our dinner menu at home. For dessert, we shared a Crème Brule (see pic) not the best I've ever had but it hit the spot and I knew I was going to be leaving Surla's fulfilled. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. I will be coming back for date night and I heard they had a wonderful brunch which I see in my near future. read more

See all

Went to Surla's for my birthday. We live out of town and I have wanted to try this place for years. The lumpia appetizer, my filet mignon, the service and drinks were excellent. The only down point was the Korean rib meal my wife and son had was subpar as the ribs tasted off or maybe old. It was not the sauce. The bok choy was undercooked. They did provide me a nice ice cream and cookie dessert. 4 stars for now and we will mix up the order the next time we go back. read more

Look for an updated review of the Sunday brunch.. Ambience and decor were trendy and chic. A little Asian flair , huge open storage area that is nicely displaying of their expensive and vast wines, and liquor. A bonus of a acoustic guitar player, playing some soft and beautiful music. I can see how an early dinner before 8 can be romantic with how dim the lighting is and the strums of the guitar. Quiet enough when my sisters and I went that we even saw a few couples with their children having an early supper. We were greeted by a sweet and genuinely friendly young lady/hostess and were seated promptly. Menu and wine list handed to is and told to enjoy our meal. We took in the whole atmosphere and browsed the menu. We were not greeted by our server for a full 10 minutes. No, the restaurant was not busy. There was a party of 10-12, another party of 4 and a scatter of couples at 4 tops in the the entire restaurant. Our server came back and although he was nice you could tell that he was distracted and didn't seem to interested in our first time visit. Seemed odd especially since we did tell him that both my sisters drove from the Bay Area to try Surlas out. We ended up ordering the LECHON appetizer and that I will say was ON POINT! So good and truly we could have just had that and some cocktails ( us filipinos LOVE Lechon) We then each ordered 3 different entrees. I had the special of Scallops, while my sisters both tried the adobo and the ribs. They were..good. But not overly fantastic. I truly wish I would have gotten the risotto that my yelp friend suggested! I got the Moscow mule that my yelp friend Gina also suggested and Super yummy but also will sneak up on YA later lol! All in all it was a nice night out, not what we expected, I think we thought more filipino or Asian foods with a twist is what we thought? But I think I'll be back with my husband for a possible date night. But for sure I do want to try the brunch. read more

Surla's - Lechon Appiteizer, Moscow mule and the scallops - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

Came here for a business dinner as it is located in the commercial district in town. Once you drive up and park in their private lot you can see that this is a beautiful and modern decor outside. Very inviting outdoor seating to enjoy the cool Modesto evenings which is a rare treat for this South Florida girl. Once inside we had reservations and we were lead to a quiet table inside which was probably better for our meeting. They had an extensive cocktail and wine menu I chose a specialty drink St. Hendricks that was perfectly made with a cucumber garnish on my martini glass. Delicious, would definitely have this drink again. My dinner companion being he had been here many times before ordered some appetizers to start. Crispy Lechon which was a pork belly served on Japanese rice with sweet soy and chili sauce. Chef John's Lumpia which is very similar to a spring roll however made with grilled chicken,pepper jack cheese,cilantro,shiitake mushroom, and scallions. If I had to do it again I would order both of these again generous sized portions. That is where I had to inform my dinner companion that I was too full to go on to the entrees altgough I am sure they are lovely. He understood and ordered a chicken Caesar salad for his main course. Now just because I had no entree doesn't mean I won't have dessert. The choices were plentiful being it was Summer and peaches the waitress checked were in season I ordered the Peach- Nectarine Crisp it presented well however too much vanilla ice cream overwhelmed this dish as well as the toasted oat sugar topping. It would probably been better if the peaches and oats were served warmer. It wasn't great would have loved to taste more of the peaches especially since it was listed first. I find most restaurants either have great food but don't do great desserts. Which was probably the case here. If I came back I would probably try something else perhaps the Valrohna turtle brownie. Any place that uses Valrhona knows what they are doing. Great restaurant and prices were excellent for what you get would definitely return if ever I find myself back in Modesto. read more

See all

Yep...those four and five star ratings are fully justified and I, with great pleasure and first-hand gustatory experience join in with my 4-star ante. Did lunch...lots of options and in each category there was a "twist" of creativity: truffle fries, poached eggs and pesto on the steak-frites, REAL lumpia like you get in Asia, esp. in the Philippines, fun, funky stuff. I think a couple could have a nice lunch choosing two or three appetizers. Nice portions and yummy choices. A rather stark and cold interior without frills. This is a place to eat and talk, not to immerse yourself in frou-frou décor. Service, courtesy of Dana Farmer, was excellent and the iced tea and water kept coming. Quality was A-One and the bar looked very inviting. Will save that for some evening. Prices were a bit high, but not outrageous and given the quality and novelty of the food, was worth it. And there was a nice wine menu. One piece that really impressed us was John Surla's focus and use on local ingredients and suppliers. They are printed on the menu and there are even deals, like the Prime Shine burger, which includes a car wash coupon. Ditto for a gym when you order that particular salad. Pretty cool. Looking forward to a return visit and to meet Chef John Surla. read more

Good stuff! Brunch was pretty good. Nice mix of treats from sushi to crepes to ribs to eggs Benedict, beet and calamari salad plus a table of just dessert treats like cream puffs and cookies n such. Super nice staff! Great atmosphere and for the most part mellow clientele (except the loud belligerent dirtbag hipsters shouting about their supposed conquests) and great decor. The regular menu is great as well. Most anything can be prepared and customized for you if you don't see an amazing version of it on the menu, and John is always changing it up with seasonal treats and specials. Their burgers are off the chart! And though I don't drink, they have an extensive wine list and their mixologists can whip up some visually stunning quenchers! Again, the staff is great and as friendly as they are handsome and beautiful, as well as knowledgable. Thanks guys! A great treat for business, company from out of town or a nice meal date. read more

See all

Kudos for the excellent service and live music that really did set the mood. The cold food selection was outstanding and the carved meat was extremely tender. The crepe station was amazing and it was perfect to share with our table, so good that we didn't even want to try the actual dessert section that did look amazing as well. We will have to make the effort to visit that section next time. The only thing that I would like to see is a lower sodium version for the Bloody Mary. Surla's is not located in the center of downtown which is a bonus since the dynamics downtown lately have caused some concern for personal saftey. The parking is ample and not having to worry about paying for parking or time limits are a plus. I'm so glad that your restaurant was recommended to us. read more

Surla's - We are having the best service from Sarah today and are enjoying top quality ingredients put together by top quality staff. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

Great Brunch!Killer Bloody Marys!Great service!Cant wait to try dinner here! read more

Surla's - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

Service was great and the food was excellent. We have been coming there for years. Highly recommended

Just got two of the burgers they were the best. Seriously couldn't put it down. We got salads instead of fries. Amazing! Great job chef!

As always, the food was delicious, atmosphere inviting, staff outstanding. I love Surla's! We had the best clam chowder along with our salads. Also, in a safe area, with ample parking. read more

Never get to this place enough. Introduced to Surla's through my pervious work, we used to have our Christmas party's there. The miso glazed salmon is to die for. It was one of the few meals I always looked forward to eating. Love it! read more

Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, a true hidden gem! There were a few plates at my table but I ordered the Korean BBQ ribs with a side of broccoli and was absolutely blown away with how perfectly prepared and delicious every single bite was. Not only is their food out of this world and worth going for alone but the atmosphere is so cozy and inviting. Every employee is friendly, professional and worth getting to know. I truly enjoyed every moment at this establishment and would recommend it to anybody. They have something for everyone and every dish is perfectly prepared. You definitely won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back again. read more

They are back and I'm so happy about it. Foods still great and can't wait for brunches to return

New to yelp but not to Surlas. My family and I have done the champagne brunch several times and always had a great experience. Didn't matter if it was a packed Easter brunch or slower regular Sunday. We also frequented for dinner on my wife and I's date nights. Today, unfortunately was terrible! Started when we were first seated without much of a greeting or even feeling welcomed. It seemed like everytime we got up for food we were running into staff. But when it came to needing beverage refills they were nowhere to be found. When we finally got to the food...we were so sadly disappointed at the quality of most everything. Everything was mediocre at best. Just so sad! We used to love coming to Surlas! What happened? I hope this was a fluke since it was the first weekend after the holidays but after reading some other reviews maybe not? read more

I always forget this place is there tucked away from the bustle of downtown. But it is so worth the stop. Their miso salmon is to die for.

The brunch today was very average. Biscuits and gravy was a surprise, but the biscuits were hard as a rock. The bacon was flimsy and nowhere nearly well-cooked. Their homemade sausage is more suited for a dinner menu, and gets cold on your plate quickly. Desserts were ok. Overall, I've been coming here for years(about 35-40 times), and have finally said enough is enough. The quality of the food has just gotten to be poor. I will say the service was good, and tipped over 20%. That could not save my experience from the food. If you want to get hammered and over-served, this is your spot. Lots of loud drunks throughout. It seems the focus of the entire establishment has shifted from food to alcohol. Surlas used to pride itself on quality food. Now, they just keep the drinks coming. One lady who was dining alone, and had just finished yelling across the room, was promptly served more cheap champagne. The folks on the patio could be heard yelling consistently from inside. Several tables were having profanity-driven conversations. Did I mention that I brought my 3 kids? This is a bar, not a brunch environment. It's not for kids. Needless to say, I did not get my 144 dollars worth, for 5 non-drinkers. We will not be back. read more

Always great food. Service is attentive and I like the ambiance. One day I must try brunch since dinner and lunch are phenomenal. I really don't know what to specifically recommend since everything I have tried was great. My only complaint is the price of a bottle of wine. I purchased this particular wine a few months ago and it was very reasonable. For dinner at Surlas we bought this wine for like a 400% mark up! Actually I don't remember the exact # but wow. Then I saw the wine at another location and again that price vs Surlas charge BIG difference. I get they need to make some $$ but c'mon that mark up is ridiculous. Go for the food...not so much for a drink read more

See all

First time here, I wasn't sure what to expect...Our waiter was great (we had a large group)..but the food was cold, the biscuits were hard as a rock, the food in general was not worth it.. especially when you leave $70 later (for 2 people)still hungry.. On a few different occasions the staff in different rooms were down talking other employees right in front of customers. EXTREMELY unprofessional. definitely would not come again for breakfast. read more

Went here for Sunday Brunch celebrating my birthday. They have a very nice buffet and everything is cooked and displayed very nice. The service was also excellent. Upbeat server that made you feel like her whole day was made by helping us. Really made it special for all of us. read more

I've been wanting to come since Surla's first opened. I met Chef John many moons ago when he came to speak to my high school English class and still worked as a chef at Galletto. He was so nice and encouraging and brought us amazing turtle brownies. Tonight I finally got that chance and I was not disappointed. My husband ordered a pizza and I ordered the truffle Mac and cheese. They brought focaccia bread before our meal and we had a title brownie for dessert. Everything was AMAZING! It was definitely worth the wait. Live acoustic music, nice dim lighting, great staff. Made for an amazing date night for the hubby and I! We will definitely be back!! read more

Surla's - Asian Fusion Near Me - Modesto, California

See all

Great food, great service. Our waiter was so nice and made sure our dinner was absolutely amazing. Definitely would recommend this place!

It's good was empty on the Wednesday we went but it was good food and service were solid as hell and the ambiance was nicer than 95% of the places in Modesto read more